Police crack whip on errant officers

Malawi Police Service (MPS) last year demoted 28 officers from sub-inspector to sergeant and from sergeant to constable while 25 were recommended for dismissal.

This follows meetings of the National Disciplinary Committee of Police on March 22 at National Police Headquarters in Lilongwe and on September 5 and December 13 at Makokola Police Cottage in Mangochi to determine various indiscipline cases.

According to the 2023 Malawi Police Service Annual Report which Nation on Sunday has seen, the committee received 166 disciplinary charge sheets from various police formations across the country.

Self-absenteeism was the most prevalent with 94 cases followed by 31 cases of conduct to the prejudice of good order and indiscipline and 12 cases of leaving post without authority.

Drinking while on duty and allowing a prisoner to escape had seven cases each, use of disrespectful words to a superior had three cases.

Two cases each were submitted for missing parade without proper cause, wilfully disobeying orders given by superiors and breaking out of camps and quarters.

On the other hand, one case each was submitted for bullying a junior, escaping from confinement and sleeping on duty.

The disciplinary committee imposed various punishments on the errant officers apart from the dismissals and demotions.

Part of the report reads: “A total of 56 punishments were imposed. Most of the reduction in rank cases and dismissal were a result of absenting themselves without leave, conduct to the prejudice of good order and indiscipline and leaving the post without authority”.

In recent years, the public has criticised MPS for allegedly shielding their colleagues found on the wrong side of the law.

The punishment imposed on the errant officers has, therefore, earned the service praise from various quarters.

Centre for Social Accountability executive director Willy Kambwandira in an interview on Thursday said it is important for State institutions to discipline those who violate professional standards.

He said: “There is a casual approach to business in the civil service. This is greatly due to heavy political interference which has seen recruitment of political mercenaries.

“Unfortunately, there are no matching administrative sanctions placed against errant officers and we must commend the MPS for cracking a whip on such.”

Human Rights Defenders Coalition national chairperson Gift Trapence said the police professional standards unit needs to conduct refresher trainings on ethics and professionalism to address indiscipline issues.

“It is important for the police to orient officers now and again to ensure they comply with their work ethics,” he said.

But Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (Cdedi) executive director Sylvester Namiwa said it would be naïve to believe that all the errant officers were guilty, considering biasness and politicisation.

He said: “I bet you there are others being punished for other reasons other than what we are meant to believe. Nonetheless, others are bad apples tainting the image of the police and deserve the punishment.

“Going forward, the tough task ahead is to ensure our police attain its independence. It should stop availing itself to failed politicians and in the process acting as a militia wing of the ruling.”

The disciplinary action comes at a time the Independent Complaints Commission (ICC) is registering an increase in complaints from the public against police officers.

ICC public relations officer Happy Njalam’mano is on record as having told Nation on Sunday that limited funding is compelling the institution to prioritise cases that need urgent attention.

The ICC was established under Section 128 of the Police Act, initially to investigate complaints by the public against the Malawi Police Service or its officers